Weeks leads Brewers' ninth-inning comeback over Cubs

Baseball Betting Lines

04/10/2009 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rickie Weeks doubled home the tying run in the ninth, took third on a ball in the dirt and scored the winning run on an infield hit with a head-first slide just ahead of the tag to give Milwaukee a thrilling 4-3 win against the Chicago Cubs in the Brewers' home opener from Miller Park.

Carlos Villanueva (1-0) set down Chicago in order in the ninth and Kevin Gregg (0-1) returned to pitch the bottom half after being called upon to close out the eighth. Jason Kendall was retired on a ground out but Chris Duffy, who was part of a double switch in the top part of the inning, drew a walk. Weeks turned on a low, 2-1 fastball for a double that sailed over the head of Alfonso Soriano in left and one-hopped against the wall.

Duffy scored to tie the game and the heads-up Weeks took third when Gregg bounced a ball in the dirt to Corey Hart, who went on to walk. Ryan Braun sent a dribbler to short and Weeks broke for home. Ryan Theriot rushed the throw and bounced it just in front of Koyie Hill and Weeks beat the tag to send the 45,455 fans, the second-largest crowd in franchise history, into a frenzy.

Braun knocked in two of Milwaukee's four runs while Hart homered and walked twice. Weeks scored twice and also robbed Aramis Ramirez of a base-hit with two men on in the seventh while down a run.

Braden Looper, who signed a one-year deal with the club shortly before spring training, was charged with one run on five hits with four walks and as many strikeouts in lasting five frames for Milwaukee, which started the year with losses in two of its first three games in San Francisco.

Hill, starting for 2008 NL Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto, hit a two-run homer and Milton Bradley added a solo shot for Chicago, which entered this series on the heels of taking two of three games from the Houston Astros.

Soto is day-to-day with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Rich Harden, looking to build off a dominant NL run in 2008 after joining Chicago midseason in a trade with Oakland, made his 2009 debut and baffled the Brewers through six innings, striking out 10 and walking two while giving up two runs -- one earned -- on just three hits.

Harden was 5-1 with a stellar 1.77 earned run average in 12 regular-season starts last season after joining the Cubs.

The Brew Crew manufactured a run in the first as Weeks took second on an error by Theriot leading off, and Hart moved the runner with a sacrifice. Braun followed with a run-scoring single through the left side.

Hart clubbed a home run deep to right-center with two out in the third, adding a run to the lead, but Bradley put the Cubs on the board, leading off the fourth with a blast to almost the same place.

Looper was lifted to start the sixth and reliever Seth McClung was stung by a two-out, two-run homer by Hill, following a Theriot single to give Chicago the 3-2 lead.

The Cubs looked to add runs in the seventh when Kosuke Fukudome doubled to left with one out, and Bradley walked with two away, but Weeks snagged a hard hit ball up the middle off the bat of Ramirez to end the inning.

Chicago went with a combination of three relievers in the home half and escaped a bases-loaded jam. Aaron Heilman started and walked Bill Hall, who moved up on a Kendall sacrifice. Neal Cotts entered to face pinch-hitter Craig Counsell but made it first and second with a hit-by-pitch, and Carlos Marmol was called into service. Weeks lined out for the second out but Hart worked a walk to load the bases. Marmol, though, recovered to retire Braun on a weak pop-up to right.

The Cubs put a runner on third with one out in the eighth. Mike Fontenot doubled off Todd Coffey and moved up on a Theriot grounder. Coffey then plunked Hill to make it first and third, which perfectly set up pinch-hitter Aaron Miles' tailor-made double-play ball to end the inning.

Lou Pinella tapped the pen again in the eighth in an attempt to get to the team's closer in Gregg. Sean Marshall walked Prince Fielder to start the frame and Luis Vizcaino was brought on to face J.J. Hardy. Hardy lined out and Mike Cameron hit a chopper back to the mound, moving the runner to second. Gregg entered to fan Hall and strand the tying run in scoring position for a second straight inning.

Game Notes

Chicago won nine of its 16 meetings with the Brewers last season, including five of the seven matchups held in Milwaukee...Milwaukee has a five-game win streak and is 7-2 in home openers at Miller Park since the its opening in 2001...Theriot and Fukudome had two hits each for Chicago...Despite the comeback, Milwaukee left 10 on base and was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position...The Cubs left nine stranded and was 0-for-7 with RISP.

Boxig Baseball Betting News

<< Pirates/Reds postponed
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Friday's game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park was postponed because of rain. A makeup date has not been announced. Pittsburgh's Jeff Karstens and Cincinnati

<< Colorado rocks Hamels, Phils in home opener
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garrett Atkins' first hit of the season -- a two-run homer -- highlighted a five-run third inning, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-3, in the home opener at Coors Field. Ryan

<< Pettitte has strong outing as Yanks top Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andy Pettitte scattered three hits and one run through seven innings, as the New York Yankees topped Kansas City, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game set. Pettitte (1-0) held his foes in check with six

<< Driver charged with murder in Adenhart's death
Fullerton, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Thomas Gallo is facing three felony murder counts in the drunken driving accident that killed Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart, The Orange County District Attorney announced the 22-yea

<< Norman misses cut after a 77
Augusta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The crowd surrounding Augusta National's familiar 18th green applauded Greg Norman. He applauded them right back. If the tournament hasn't always been kind to The Shark, at least the gallery has. No

Gilroy wins 2009 Hobey Baker Award >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Executive Committee announced Friday that Boston University senior defenseman Matt Gilroy was named the 29th winner of college hockey's most prestigious individ

Mickelson bounces back with a 68 >>
Augusta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After struggling to a one-over 73 on Thursday, Phil Mickelson bounced back with a four-under 68 Friday to move into share of 11th at three-under-par 141 after two rounds of the Masters. Mickelson was well o

Hawks F Marvin Williams returns to lineup >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta Hawks forward Marvin Williams returned to the lineup in Friday's game with the Indiana Pacers at Philips Arena after missing the last 16 with a lower back injury. The former North Carolina product is

Chase Field to host 2011 MLB All-Star Game >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will host the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. MLB has called a news conference for Saturday afternoon when an official announcement is expected from

Dodgers' Kuroda placed on DL >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda on the 15-day disabled list Friday due to a strained left oblique muscle. Kuroda pitched on Opening Day for the Dodgers, earning the win after allow

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.